Aerosmith Reunite With Darryl McDaniels of Run-D.M.C. [VIDEO]

After their 1984 self-titled debut and 1985's King Of Rock, Run-D.M.C. were recording their third album, Raising Hell. The group was extremely popular with rap fans, but producer Rick Rubin thought the new album needed something that appealed to fans of rock as well.

Rick Rubin suggested that they record a cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" from 1975's Toys In The Attic.  According to Run-D.M.C., they didn't know who Aerosmith were at the time.  They had never heard of the group.  That idea evolved to Steven Tyler and Joe Perry joining the recording session to add new vocals and guitar parts.

The song was released in 1986 and received major videoplay on MTV.  It introduced Run-D.M.C. to a new audience and also rejuvenated Aerosmith's career.  The song made Run-D.M.C. the first rap group to have a song in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100.  It brought rap to the mainstream and influenced rock and rap artists to use elements of both genres to create new music. Evolution, baby.

Aerosmith played in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 24th and was joined on stage by Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels for a performance of "Walk This Way" 26 years after the release of the Run-D.M.C. version.